Chris Evans pleaded with the audience to laugh on 'Top Gear'

Chris Evans pleaded with the audience to laugh on the first episode of the new re-vamped series of 'Top Gear' aired on Sunday (29.05.16)

Chris Evans pleaded with the audience to laugh on 'Top Gear'.

The 50-year-old TV presenter - who hosts the British motoring series alongside former 'Friends' actor Matt LeBlanc - urged the audience to respond to his jokes about the programme's former host Jeremy Clarkson and act like they were enjoying the BBC Two show.

Speaking on the show on Sunday night (29.05.16) when the first episode of the revamped programme hit screens, he said: "If you find things vaguely funny or you think they were supposed to be funny please laugh.

"That would be great."

And it is believed the show attempted to conceal the "awkward silences" with clips of people laughing, although people in the background remained straight faced.

Speaking to The Sun online, a guest who attended the racing programme said: "There were so many long, awkward silences. But when I watched the show back I just couldn't believe how much laughter they had added in.

"The episode made it sound as though we were in fits of hysterics throughout the recording but that is far from the truth.

"After seeing Chris and Matt do hundreds of takes and spiel out horrendous jokes for four hours straight we were all bored out of our minds - not in stitches like they made it seem in Sunday's show."

Despite the show's decline in views since Jeremy, Richard Hammond and James May left the show, which pulled in just 1.4 million viewers less than the last series, it is reported newcomer Matt is allegedly being offered a mega money deal to return to host the second series of 'Top Gear' in a bid to get more viewers to tune in.

Speaking previously, a source said: "Matt came across really well, he can drive and certainly knows his motors. Matt is crucial to the success going forward."